Obituary for Sandy Lofgren
Sandra Lynn (Martin) Lofgren, age 78 of Childress, passed away on Tuesday, January 31 in Childress. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 4 at 10:30 a.m. in the First Baptist Church Chapel in Childress.
Sandy was born on September 3, 1944 in Childress to Everett (Jody) Martin and Edith (Brumley) Martin. Sandy loved music. Her father’s musical influence dominated her existence and playing music, writing songs, and dreaming about Nashville was the singular theme of her life. She played in her father’s band, and she spent many years playing the keyboard and traveling with different bands to Honky Tonks, Juke Joints, and VFWs all over the Panhandle and the Big Country of Texas. She was a natural when it came to music,
“Our dad was a musician, he wanted his daughters to follow in his footsteps. All three of his daughters were in the Bobcat marching band. Shirley (Sandy’s oldest sister) always played piano, but Sandy could play any song – just hum me a few bars she would say. She was a natural athlete too. So much so, that she kept on bowling when she was pregnant with Parrish. Some say that’s why his head is big/round like a bowling ball. Since our mom was an excellent cook and baker, Sandy took notes in the kitchen – there wasn’t anything she couldn’t do well. Lots of hidden talent she would say with a laugh. Hard worker, even did construction with “the guys”. Stubborn to a fault, but would give you the shirt off her back.” – Lyn Martin, Sandy’s Younger Sister
Sandy was most happy when she was working her fingers to the bone. A tireless laborer who found joy doing back breaking hard work. She was someone who could never sit still or rest on her laurels. Her legendary work ethic is something she did her best to pass on to her children. She was most happy with her work life when she was part of the construction crew that paved Avenue I back in the late 70s and early 80s. Her kids remember how excited she was coming home in a hard hat and covered in dirt from driving heavy equipment. She worked every type of hard job imaginable even working the line at the railroad spike factory in Wellington, Texas for awhile in the 1980s.
Her love of hard work and obsession over growing a garden of tropical plants in an inhospitable growing zone started at a young age when she “picked Cotton” with her Mother’s family in the Cotton Fields outside Brownfield, Texas. She never stopped taking hard jobs or toiling in the dirt with plants – not even when her last years were unbearably painful. She continued to “iron” clothes for customers in Childress with a five pound Iron from the 1950s. She shunned using the “modern” plastic irons that she was given because it was too easy. She craved the visceral feeling that she got from performing hard labor. She had no time for lazy people. She needed to suffer when she worked.
Sandy knew how to suffer. Deeply religious and full of faith, she believed that all her earthly suffering was for a reason: that she would be rewarded when she died with the gift of eternal salvation. She gave more than she got. She was fiercely independent to the bitter end, and she aimed to live a virtuous life. She tried her best to do her best.
She will be remembered by her children, people who knew her, and her community for being tough as a boot, as ornery as a mule, and as a righteous child of God.
She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother, Stephen Anthony; a sister, Shirley James; an aunt who was like her sister, Sherry Brumley Hurley; and a great-granddaughter, Jazzlee Lee Wilson.
She is survived by her three sons, Parrish Ticer and wife, Elena of San Antonio; Tye Ticer and wife Zandy of Childress; Jeremy Cole of Childress; a daughter, Ginger Wilson of Childress; seven grandchildren, Chase Wilson of Childress; Madie Sweatt and husband, Luke of Shamrock; Tate Wofford of Childress; Carli Cole of Childress; Brody and Garrett Ticer of San Antonio and Scottland Cole of Louisana; four great-grandchildren, Jasper Cody Wilson; Maddux Grace Sweatt, Copeland Wofford and Leigon Cole; a sister, Lynette Martin and Elizabeth of Albuquerque, N.M.; two nephews, Joel Hassell and wife, Denise of Childress and Jason Beal and family of Albuquerque, N.M.; a bonus son, Kelvin Ticer and wife, Marsha; as well as numerous other great nephews, nieces and friends.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the medical staff of Childress Regional Medical Hospice for their love and care during her illness.
Sandy was born on September 3, 1944 in Childress to Everett (Jody) Martin and Edith (Brumley) Martin. Sandy loved music. Her father’s musical influence dominated her existence and playing music, writing songs, and dreaming about Nashville was the singular theme of her life. She played in her father’s band, and she spent many years playing the keyboard and traveling with different bands to Honky Tonks, Juke Joints, and VFWs all over the Panhandle and the Big Country of Texas. She was a natural when it came to music,
“Our dad was a musician, he wanted his daughters to follow in his footsteps. All three of his daughters were in the Bobcat marching band. Shirley (Sandy’s oldest sister) always played piano, but Sandy could play any song – just hum me a few bars she would say. She was a natural athlete too. So much so, that she kept on bowling when she was pregnant with Parrish. Some say that’s why his head is big/round like a bowling ball. Since our mom was an excellent cook and baker, Sandy took notes in the kitchen – there wasn’t anything she couldn’t do well. Lots of hidden talent she would say with a laugh. Hard worker, even did construction with “the guys”. Stubborn to a fault, but would give you the shirt off her back.” – Lyn Martin, Sandy’s Younger Sister
Sandy was most happy when she was working her fingers to the bone. A tireless laborer who found joy doing back breaking hard work. She was someone who could never sit still or rest on her laurels. Her legendary work ethic is something she did her best to pass on to her children. She was most happy with her work life when she was part of the construction crew that paved Avenue I back in the late 70s and early 80s. Her kids remember how excited she was coming home in a hard hat and covered in dirt from driving heavy equipment. She worked every type of hard job imaginable even working the line at the railroad spike factory in Wellington, Texas for awhile in the 1980s.
Her love of hard work and obsession over growing a garden of tropical plants in an inhospitable growing zone started at a young age when she “picked Cotton” with her Mother’s family in the Cotton Fields outside Brownfield, Texas. She never stopped taking hard jobs or toiling in the dirt with plants – not even when her last years were unbearably painful. She continued to “iron” clothes for customers in Childress with a five pound Iron from the 1950s. She shunned using the “modern” plastic irons that she was given because it was too easy. She craved the visceral feeling that she got from performing hard labor. She had no time for lazy people. She needed to suffer when she worked.
Sandy knew how to suffer. Deeply religious and full of faith, she believed that all her earthly suffering was for a reason: that she would be rewarded when she died with the gift of eternal salvation. She gave more than she got. She was fiercely independent to the bitter end, and she aimed to live a virtuous life. She tried her best to do her best.
She will be remembered by her children, people who knew her, and her community for being tough as a boot, as ornery as a mule, and as a righteous child of God.
She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother, Stephen Anthony; a sister, Shirley James; an aunt who was like her sister, Sherry Brumley Hurley; and a great-granddaughter, Jazzlee Lee Wilson.
She is survived by her three sons, Parrish Ticer and wife, Elena of San Antonio; Tye Ticer and wife Zandy of Childress; Jeremy Cole of Childress; a daughter, Ginger Wilson of Childress; seven grandchildren, Chase Wilson of Childress; Madie Sweatt and husband, Luke of Shamrock; Tate Wofford of Childress; Carli Cole of Childress; Brody and Garrett Ticer of San Antonio and Scottland Cole of Louisana; four great-grandchildren, Jasper Cody Wilson; Maddux Grace Sweatt, Copeland Wofford and Leigon Cole; a sister, Lynette Martin and Elizabeth of Albuquerque, N.M.; two nephews, Joel Hassell and wife, Denise of Childress and Jason Beal and family of Albuquerque, N.M.; a bonus son, Kelvin Ticer and wife, Marsha; as well as numerous other great nephews, nieces and friends.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the medical staff of Childress Regional Medical Hospice for their love and care during her illness.